Las Cruces city budget: 3 takeaways from budget retreat

The City of Las Cruces has spent 42% ($62 million) of its Fiscal Year 2024 budget so far on public safety.

According to City Manager Ifo Pili, the Las Cruces Police Department's general fund budget has grown by 25% in the past three years. The second largest expenditure so far in FY24 is administration (36.3 million) followed by community services ($31.2 million).

From a revenue standpoint, Las Cruces relies on gross receipts tax, which has encompassed 79% ($110 million) of the $138 million in revenue so far.

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According to City staff, revenues have been on a slight upward trajectory in the past three completed budget years, increasing from $123 million in FY21 to $161 million in 2023.

City leaders met last week in a two-day budget retreat where department heads presented various projects that will require funding from the City's general fund in Fiscal Year 2025.

Las Cruces Police Department will implement Real Time Crime Center

Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Story presented an ask of $503,000 that would help establish a Real Time Crime Center.

Story said there are similar facilities in Farmington and Santa Fe. Story said the center would bridge the gap between dispatch and responding officer by proiding critical information to officers prior to their arrival on a scene.

The center would be housed in the main police station, where techs will review databases, cameras and other investigative tools to assist officers.

“It is a technology improvement plan ask to help with the implementation of the ground work that has to be laid,” Story said.

The general fund request would fund positions and the maintenance for the program.

Story said the department requested $2 million from the legislature. Mayor Pro Temp Johana Bencomo said the City expects to receive about $650,000 from the state toward the implementation of the program.

In an anecdote that could resonate in Las Cruces, Story gave an example of cameras picking up a person picking up a rock in downtown Las Cruces and officers being on the scene before the rock is thrown threw the window of a business.

“It’s scaled to how much we want to do,” Story said. “There is a certain level that has to be done to make it useful. … We are going to work our way toward being as useful as possible.

“Anything that we get, we will be grateful for and put it to good use.”

Several road improvements slated to start in 2024

Director of Public Works David Sedillo presented several road projects slated to begin in 2024.

Sedillo said the projects would include repairs to 134 streets and 43 miles in Las Cruces.

• Telshor/Spruce/Triviz intersection: This project would include improved signals, widening, sidewalks and medians. The estimated cost is $3 million with an expected completion date in the spring of 2026. One feature would be a continuous north bound lane of through traffic that would only stop when a pedestrian activates a signal to cross.

• S. Main Street and Avenida de Mesilla: This project has an estimated cost of $3.9 million and should be completed by winter of 2025. It includes new pavement, larger sidewalks, features for pedestrian safety and railroad crossings.

• Campo St. from Lohman to Spruce: This project would cost approximately $6.5 million and be completed in the fall of 2025. It features enhanced sidewalks, a bicycle lane, lighting and signal improvements.

• Madrid extension to Triviz: This project will cost $3.4 million and construction is expected to be complete by fall of 2025. It includes sidewalks, curb and gutter, lighting, landscaping and bicycle lanes.

• Sacramento (neighborhood street, from Oasis to Poplar): This project will cost #1.5 million and be completed by spring of 2025. It will include asphalt, sidewalks, lighting and storm drains.

Parks throughout town in need of repair

Perhaps the department in most need of improvements throughout the city involve the parks and recreation department.

Some of the common issues across the parks system the City hopes to address include drinking fountain replacements, restroom repairs, worn railing, turf improvements and playground repairs and upgrades.

The department requested $1.4 million for renovations at Apodaca Park, including $376,000 for a plaza entry area, $281,000 for turf, trees and irrigation improvements and $50,000 for restroom rehab.

The department asked for $1.2 million for renovations at Pioneer Women's Park with $200,000 for lighting and $729,800 for hardscape/streetscape improvements.

The department is also looking to hire three park rangers.

What's next?

City Council will hold two budget work sessions: the first on March 11 and the second on April 22.

There will be a public hearing at noon in Council Chambers and a resolution to adopt the budget will be presented on May 20.

Jason Groves can be reached at 575-541-5459 or jgroves@lcsun-news.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @jpgroves.

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Here are 3 takeaways from Las Cruces' budget retreat